Name: Two Korean Tofu Dishes, Dubu-buchim, Chives & Dububuchim- yangnyeomjang
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: both dishes yield enough for 6
Cuisine: Korean
Ingredients: For Preparing Dish Number One: Dubu-buchim, Chives- Fried Tofu with Vegetables; For the Sauce:; 2 tablespoons white vinegar; 4 tablespoons soy sauce; 2 scant tablespoons oil; 2 tablespoon red pepper flakes; 2 tablespoon sesame seeds; 1 teaspoon sesame oil; 1 teaspoon sugar; 3 tablespoons pureed onion, use one-quarter of the fresh soaked onion from the vegetables below and puree in a mini food processor with a bit of the water; For the Tofu:; 1 15 ounce (510g) package firm tofu, sliced about half or three quarter inch thick; 4-5 tablespoons oil, approximately; For the Vegetables:; 10 Korean style chives, chopped into one and a half inch pieces; 1 carrot, peeled, cut into two inch pieces, sliced lengthwise, then cut into even matchstick pieces; 1 small onion, peeled, cut in half, sliced into thin half moon pieces, soaked in cold water for 5 minutes, drained (1/4 used for the onion puree in the sauce); For Preparing Dish Number Two: Dububuchim- yangnyeomjang- Tofu Pancakes with vegetables; 18 ounce (510g) package firm tofu; 2 tablespoons oil, approximately, plus 3-4 tablespoons for frying pancakes; 2 Korean squash, or substitute zucchini, diced; 1 small onion, diced; 1 carrot, peeled, cut into 2 inch pieces, sliced lengthwise then into matchstick strips; 2 scallions, fine chopped, green and white parts; 4 shiitake mushrooms, stems removed, thinly sliced, cut into small pieces; 5 cloves garlic, crushed, chopped finely; 4 eggs, beaten; 1/4 cup Korean Pancake mix, plus a bit more if needed; 4 tablespoons shredded white cheese such as mozzarella, or a mild cheddar; a few good pinches coarse kosher salt, more or less

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Two Korean Tofu Dishes, Dubu-buchim, Chives & Dububuchim- yangnyeomjang

Pressed for time, having been away over the weekend, I was rapidly removing some of the final ingredients from the rickety metal cart and tossing them onto the moving belt at the register of the Korean Market when she called. What? Already at my house? But we said 10:30, it was merely ten till ten. O.K. I confirmed I’d be there in ten. Minutes that was.

Upon my arrival, we briefly hugged before getting to unload our bags of groceries, much of which we discovered between the two of us then had double of. That got a giggle, before the bigger laugh came as I caught my breath and admitted to having factored in “Korean time” meaning she would arrive at least ten to fifteen minutes late, maybe later.

She laughed at her determination in having scheduled our get-together for cooking Korean food together that day as being set for “American time,” arriving early.

Dana Lee and I have known each other on and off for around 26 years, at least since two weeks after the arrival of my eldest daughter, Sooky the Stylist, from Korea. She worked at Shilla, the area Korean Barbecue Restaurant in northeast Philadelphia, a place first introduced to us by Jim and Eileen, adoptive parents whose youngest daughter, Jill, was also from Korea.

Dana seemed our appointed person whenever our group frequented in to get our Bulgogi and Kim Chee fixes of which we had all become accustomed and were eager to continue exposing to our children. We could always count on her to patiently explain any new dishes we might try on the menu along with assisting on rapidly moving the grilling meat and vegetables with chopsticks across the hot metal tabletop griller whenever passing by.

Mostly, she fussed affectionately over the children, and while they were still pint sized, always insisted on fixing their rice bowls, filling them all around with miso soup liquid and handing them spoons while instructing them in Korean to eat up.

A few years later, around the time the little ones grew up a bit, having finished up all the contents of their rice bowls poured over with miso soup, they would end the meal entertaining themselves with the extra change we would bring for filling the metal coin slotted inserts beneath the clear glass globed mint and candy machines.

Then again, with our friend, Jim Moran, we would pick up our newest bundle of joy at the New York airport, joining us from Korea, Alexandra Min Sun. Within the year, it was Dana Lee who then helped us prepare for her all-important Korean 1st birthday celebration held in a larger room above the restaurant.

Around the time of Dana Lee moving on, we too moved residence to a suburb outside of Philadelphia, losing touch until a couple of years later, where again we would run into each other at the First Holy Communion of the daughter of our Korean neighbors, the Chang’s, across the street, and later then occasionally, at the Philadelphia area Korean market. And so it’s gone on this way for years, somehow we always continue to weave in and out of each other’s lives.

Recently seeing each other again seemed a special reunion of sorts, so much to catch up on. Life being what it is, kind of like the Tofu dishes, starting out simply bland, before the marinating, fermenting, in the end creating a colorful, well flavored, beautiful dish. And so on our next encounter, we began our day’s journey of food preparations together, among the favorites of Dana Lee, Two Korean Tofu Dishes, Dubu-buchim, Chives & Dububuchim- yangnyeomjang.

Both of the dishes begin with a package of this popular Korean brand of firm Tofu. Easy enough right?

To unravel the thought pattern to the ease of these dishes, one package will be sliced and fried slowly in oil on both sides until golden brown before topping with raw chopped Korean chives and vegetables in sauce.

Another package of the tofu, using plastic gloves, will be mushed up in a bowl and combined with assorted sautéed vegetables, eggs, Korean pancake mix, and a bit of cheese before being shaped into pancakes for frying.

The one thing both dishes have in common beginning the preparation is always rinsing and drying the tofu from liquids using paper towels. You can see Dana drying the tofu in the photo above.

Squish and mush together.

Above is a photo of a package of Korean vegetable pancake mix to give you an idea of what to look for when you go to the Asian market. There are a variety of brands to choose from.

Always something new to learn, Dana uses the Bull-Dog Tonkatsu as the dipping sauce for the tofu pancakes, a sort of sweet lightly tart flavor. Interesting, as I would otherwise have simply prepared an easy soy sauce and rice vinegar dipping sauce. We actually prepared that later in our preparation of traditional Korean pancakes, but then there is another time to share that.

Sort of like the day there was plenty else to catch up on including with the now exquisite, once pint sized little one Danielle, aka Sooky, whose rice bowl Dana Lee used to fill, merely two weeks after arriving from Korea, pouring warm miso soup all around, always affectionately encouraging her to ‘eat up.’